Mitomycin C: an alternative conservative treatment for refractory esophageal stricture in children?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Mitomycin C is an antiproliferative agent that has been used successfully as an adjunct treatment in ophthalmological procedures, in the management of laryngeal and tracheal stenosis, and more recently to prevent the recurrence of caustic esophageal strictures in children. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of local application of mitomycin C to refractory esophageal strictures in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a preliminary prospective study of local application of mitomycin C in four children, aged between 1 year and 6 years, who had refractory esophageal strictures. Two of the children presented with strictures caused by caustic ingestion and the other two children had anastomotic strictures following surgical repair of congenital esophageal atresia. The patients had required between four and ten esophageal dilations over a 5-24-month period before mitomycin C application. After an endoscopic dilation, mitomycin C was applied onto the dilation wound using a rigid endoscope. RESULTS: No complications were observed after the procedure. One child required a second application of mitomycin C 2 weeks after the first application because of recurrence of dysphagia. All the children remained asymptomatic and none of them required further dilation over a mean follow-up period of 24 months. Radiological control examinations revealed that there was no recurrence of the esophageal strictures and esophageal biopsies performed during follow-up showed no signs of dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Local application of mitomycin C is a potential alternative to iterative dilations, surgery, or stent placement for the treatment of refractory esophageal strictures in children. However, prospective, long-term assessment of outcomes is needed before any definitive conclusion can be drawn about the usefulness of mitomycin C in these patients.

Thyroid alar cartilage graft in paediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential indications of thyroid alar cartilage (TAC) graft in the paediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) population based on observations obtained in a case series of 27 consecutive infants referred to our tertiary care center. METHODS: Thyroid alar cartilage grafting was performed for limited Myer grade II and grade III subglottic stenosis requiring a single-stage laryngoplasty and for laryngeal enlargement after translaryngotracheal resection of endolaryngeal tumors. The evolution of the grafted area was evaluated prospectively during endoscopic follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (92.5%) were successfully extubated after a mean of 5.1 days. No perioperative or postoperative complications were observed. The mean duration of graft harvesting was 7.7 min. Follow-up of the grafted area revealed one case of partial necrosis without prolapse into the lumen. The mean duration of graft epithelialization was 18.1 days (range: 12-30 days). Development of granulation tissue was observed in eight patients (32%) with a mean duration of granulation tissue persistence of 61.5 days (range: 7-155 days). Endoscopic follow-up did not demonstrate any pharyngolaryngeal asymmetry or feeding difficulties. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the use of thyroid alar cartilage grafting is feasible for pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction. The indications of thyroid alar cartilage graft should be reserved for moderated subglottic stenosis. The use of TAC reduced the operative time and cosmetic sequelae significantly. The healing of the grafted area was similar to those obtained with other types of graft. The TAC removal did not induce laryngeal deformation but longer follow-up is necessary to confirm this.

[Long term results of exclusive chemotherapy for glottic squamous cell carcinoma complete clinical responders after induction chemotherapy]. / Résultats à long-terme de la chimiothérapie exclusive des cancers épidermoïdes glottiques.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term results of exclusive chemotherapy for T1-T3N0M0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma complete clinical responders after induction chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1985 and 2000, 69 patients with glottic squamous cell carcinoma complete clinical responders after induction chemotherapy were managed with exclusive chemotherapy at our department. Chemotherapy associated platinum and fluorouracil. This retrospective analysis evaluated actuarial survival, treatment morbidity, oncologic events and laryngeal preservation. Various independent factors were tested for potential correlation with survival and local recurrence. RESULTS: The 5-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival, local control, lymph node control estimate were 83,6%, 64,8%, 98,6% respectively. Chemotherapy never resulted in death. The 10-year actuarial metachronous second primary tumors estimate was 32%. The overall laryngeal preservation rate was 98,6%. CONCLUSION: Altogether our data and the review of the literature suggest that in patients achieving a complete clinical response after and induction based chemotherapy regimen, the completion of an exclusive chemotherapy regimen appears to be a valid alternative to the conventional use of radiotherapy or chemo-radiation protocols.

[Severe laryngomalacia: surgical indications and results in 33 patients]. / Prise en charge chirurgicale des laryngomalacies sévères. Une série de 33 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngomalacia is the most common course of stridor in children: with a 50% to 75% incidence. About 50% to 60% of congenital laryngeal anomalies that present with stridor are due to laryngomalacia. In most cases, the disease followed a benign course but the prognosis is less favorable in 10% to 15% of cases. These patients may require surgical intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 33 patients referred to our institution from May 1998 to May 2003 for severe laryngomalacia. The diagnosis of severe laryngomalacia was based on clinical and if necessary paraclinical data. An endoscopic laser resection of arytenoid mucosal excess associated if necessary with suprahyoid epiglottectomy was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Mean age of the children was 7.5 Months (range, 2 weeks-4 Years). Ninety-six percent of the patients had complete resolution of symptoms before the fourth postoperative week. Ninety one percents of the patients had effective oral feeding within the first Month (48% immediately after surgery). The average hospital stay was 6 days (range, 3 to 14). Weight gains were found to be satisfactory in all cases since children were discharged the hospital. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic laryngeal surgery is an appropriate therapy for treatment of severe forms of laryngomalacia. It is a safe and effective surgical procedure.

Congenital pharyngolaryngeal band: report of an unusual case of respiratory distress.

Congenital pharyngolaryngeal band (PLB) is an extremely rare congenital abnormality, characterized by a fibrous web extending from the nasopharynx to the epiglottis. We report a case of unilateral pharyngolaryngeal band in a new-born who presented severe airway obstruction and feeding difficulties. The band extended from the right postero-inferior part of the nasopharynx to the right lateral margin of the larynx. Faucial pillars and tonsil were absent on this side. Endoscopic and radiological assessments excluded associated cervicofacial abnormality. Two endoscopic laser resection procedures were necessary to liberate the larynx from PLB. Clinical and radiological assessment advocated a second pharyngeal pouch development failure as the origin to PLB.

[Zenker's diverticulum in the elderly patient: evolution of endoscopic treatment using a CO2 laser]. / Le diverticule de Zenker chez le sujet âgé: évolution du traitement endoscopique au laser CO2.

OBJECTIVES: The authors report their experience in a retrospective study of 28 patients with symptomatic hypopharyngeal diverticulum. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The mean age was 70 years. Eight patients presented with severe dysphagia and nine with weight's loss. The delay before diagnosis was 17 months. All patients included were studied by an oesophageal barium swallow prior to any treatment. According to Van Overbeeck's classification, diverticula were medium sized in 11 patients, small in 8 and large in 7. All patients had endoscopic assessment of the diverticular pouch; 26 patients were treated by microendoscopic laser myotomy and 2 by resection. RESULTS: The average time for oral feeding was 4 days. None of the 28 cases had a postoperative complication. 25 patients had partial or complete relief of symptoms after their initial treatment. In 3 cases recurrence of symptoms occurred, of whom 2 underwent endoscopic revision and 1 underwent an open procedure. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic laser surgery for Zenker's diverticulum can be recommended as the treatment of choice for elderly patients. It is a useful procedure because it is swift, effective with a low rate of morbidity, even in cases with impaired of health or associated diseases.